Michael German AM

Assembly Member for South Wales East

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Business & Enterprise Survey 2009

Yours views could make a difference to the future of business and enterprise in Wales and in the UK. Michael German AM is seeking your views on what small to medium sized businesses need help keep them aflost during the current economic downturn and recession.

Privacy Notice

This is an anonymous survey. The information you provide below will not be linked to your personal details once you submit your answers. Please note that, even though your answers will not be linked to your personal details, your individual answers to the entire survey can be viewed together, in addition to aggregate information about all responses.

Your responses are collected in accordance with our privacy policy.

Your Details

1. Your Name:

2. Name of Company/Business:

3. Your Position in the Business/Company:

4. Address:

5. Postcode:

6. 'Phone:

7. Website:

8. What type of products or services does your company provide?:

9. E-mail:

10. Approximately how many people does the company/business employ?:

The effects of the credit crunch and recession

11. Generally speaking, how has the credit crunch and the threat of recession affected your business over the last year? :

	Turnover has reduced
	Profits have reduced
	The business is now running at a loss
	The credit crunch/recession has had no impact on my business
	The credit crunch/recession is boosting my business

12. Which of the following best sums up the likely impact of the recession on the number of people you employ?:

	We are employing more people
	We are reducing the hours of our staff
	We are postponing any plans to employ more staff
	We have had to lay off staff/are planning to lay off staff
	No significant impact

13. Which of the following best sums up how your banking facilities have changed in the last year? :

	Overdraft facilities have been reduced
	Overdraft facilities have been withdrawn
	A business loan has been "called in"
	A business loan has been refused
	Bank charges (interest rates and/or fees) have increased considerably
	Our banking facilities have not changed

14. Which of the following best sums up the impact of your bank's actions on your business cashflow?:

	We have no cashflow problems
	We may struggle to maintain our cashflow
	The continuing viability of our business is seriously impaired or in doubt

15. In your experience, has the Government's bail-out of the banks benefited small businesses?:

	No, it has hurt
	It has made no difference
	It has made a little difference
	It has helped a lot

16. How have energy, fuel or other raw material prices affected your business? (please mark all that apply):

	We have cut our consumption to try to save costs
	We have refused some business due to rising costs
	Rising costs have significantly cut our profits
	Rising costs are causing the business to run at a loss
	No affect

Costs and taxation

17. How is the 2.5% cut in VAT to affecting your business?:

	Do not expect it to have any impact
	Having to adjust our prices will increase our costs
	It is likely to boost demand for our products but have limited impact on our profits
	It is likely to boost demand for our products and increase our profits
	Other (please specify)

18. Are the Government’s changes to business tax (postponing the rise in the small firms rate of corporation tax, and temporarily reducing VAT) sufficient?:

	Yes
	No

19. If no, please mark the following elements of business taxation that you feel is the most in need of reform::

	The small firms rate of corporation tax
	The general rate of corporation tax
	Local business rates
	Duties and/or VAT
	Employers' NI Contributions (or any other taxes on employment)
	The timing of tax bills
	Self-employment tax

Advice & Support

21. We are concerned that South East Wales could suffer heavily from the downturn. Which of the following actions would you think would help the most?:

	Extending and publicising free car parking for shoppers on Saturdays and in the run-up to Christmas
	Pro-actively inviting applications for Rate Relief on grounds of hardship
	Running a free shuttle bus service from Severn Tunnel Junction to local businesses
	Improve signage for Caldicot town centre and other business areas from surrounding trunk roads and motorways
	Accepting cards for toll payments on the Severn bridges
	Reducing the tolls on the Severn bridges
	Ending the tolls on the Severn bridges

Prospects for the future

22. How do you expect your business to perform over the next year, as a result of the recession? :

	Turnover is likely to reduce
	Profits are likely to reduce
	The business will run at a loss
	The credit crunch/recession should have no impact on my business
	The credit crunch/recession should boost my business

23. Please use this space to tell us of any other problems restricting your business and what could be done to help businesses such as yours to survive the recession and thrive? :

24. Are the Government’s changes to business tax (postponing the rise in the small firms rate of corporation tax, and temporarily reducing VAT) sufficient?:

	Yes
	No

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